North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry is one of 8 TDs that will form a Technical Group in the next Dáil. Deputy Lowry says the Group will continue to be known as the Regional Group and will consist of Deputy Lowry alongside Sean Canney(Galway East), Marian Harkin(Sligo?Leitrim), Barry Heneghan(Dublin Bay North), Noel Grealish(Galway West), Verona Murphy(Wexford), Kevin Moran(Longford/Westmeath) and Gillian O’Toole(Meath East).
It is understood that Deputy Lowry convened the meeting from which the grouping was formed. Given the Dáil arithmetic and the possible strategic decisions of Labour and the Social Democrats to stay out of a Coalition the group is well placed to have a role in Government formation talks. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael combined have 86 seats – just short of a majority as the Dáil now comprises 174 TDs. The Dáil is due to meet on December 18th when a TD will be elected to the position of Ceann Comhairle to chair Dáil proceedings for the next five years. The person appointed is automatically returned to the next Dáil. Seanad Elections will now take place with 49 new Senators to be elected by the end of January – the incoming Taoiseach will appoint the final 11 Senators. Ministers can be appointed from the Dáil or Seanad.
